Play-in-a-Day opens Beth Marshall Presents season

THE ARTISTIC TYPE: A BLOG OF THEATER, ARTS AND CULTURE

September 5, 2013|By Matthew J. Palm, Orlando Sentinel Arts Writer

The Labor Day holiday meant I had a tighter deadline than usual to prepare my weekly column for the Sentinel's Calendar section. But that's nothing compared with the deadline pressure for the folks involved in Play-in-a-Day.

In the annual event, theatrical teams create original short plays in a mere 24 hours. A writer, director, stage manager and actors start from scratch and come up with a concept, story and show that's presented to the public.

Beth Marshall Presents produces Play-in-a-Day, in conjunction with James Brendlinger's Penguin Point Productions. Students from 10 area high schools are involved in various ways, but Orlando theatergoers are sure to see a lot of familiar faces in the nine mini-plays. Participating actors include Kelly Kilgore, Kevin Sigman, Anthony Pyatt Jr., Brett P. Carson, Alexander Mrazek and Sarah Lockard, to name just a few.

Behind the scenes, directors include Michael Marinaccio and Julia Gagne. Among the writers are John DiDonna, Janine Klein and Rob Ward (known onstage as his peppy alter-ego Pepe).

The $15 ticket gets you not only the evening's entertainment but access to a silent auction and raffles. Partial proceeds from the event benefit the High School Thespian Scholarship Award.

Play-in-a-Day takes place this Saturday, Sept. 7, at Lake Howell High School Theatre, 4200 Dike Road, Orlando. The show is at 7:30 p.m.; the silent auction is at 7. For tickets or more information — including all those involved — go to bethmarshallpresents.com